Police act on eyewitness account and victim's videos; accused allegedly demanded ₹1 crore and threatened truck driver after accident on Jagdalpur-Bijapur highway

Police have arrested the owner of a Mercedes car in connection with the suicide of a 25-year-old truck driver who allegedly took his own life after being threatened and assaulted following a road accident on the Jagdalpur-Bijapur National Highway-63.

The accused, identified as Sagar Hemla, was arrested after investigators examined eyewitness statements, social media videos recorded by the deceased before his death, and other digital evidence. He has been booked on charges related to criminal intimidation and abetment allegations and was sent to judicial custody after being produced before a court.

The case has drawn widespread attention after the victim's family alleged that the truck driver was subjected to physical assault, intimidation and an alleged demand for ₹1 crore as compensation following the accident.

According to police, the incident dates back to June 11, when a collision took place between a truck and a Mercedes car near Banjari Ghat on National Highway-63 in the Gidam police station area. Investigators said that following the accident, the truck driver, Tamradhwaj Sahu alias Sonu (25), was allegedly abused, assaulted and threatened by the Mercedes owner.

Family members have alleged that the accused demanded ₹1 crore for the damage caused to the luxury vehicle and threatened to kill the truck driver and harm his family if the amount was not paid. The alleged harassment reportedly left the young driver mentally distressed.

The following day, Tamradhwaj allegedly died by suicide after hanging himself.

Before taking the extreme step, the victim uploaded multiple videos on his social media accounts, claiming that he had been assaulted and threatened after the accident. In the videos, he reportedly narrated the circumstances that led to his emotional distress.

The victim's uncle, Hem Singh, who claims to have witnessed the incident, alleged that he was present with Tamradhwaj during the accident. According to him, the accused physically assaulted the truck driver and demanded ₹1 crore, while also issuing life threats.

Following complaints from the victim's relatives, Gidam police intensified the investigation. Officers visited the accident spot, recorded eyewitness statements and examined digital evidence, including the social media videos, mobile screenshots and other electronic records.

Based on the available evidence collected during the investigation, police arrested Sagar Hemla, a resident of Gangaloor in Bijapur district. He was later produced before a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

The case has also sparked controversy after the victim's family alleged that two of the eight videos uploaded by Tamradhwaj before his death went missing during the investigation. The family has demanded a fair and transparent probe into the matter and urged authorities to recover all digital evidence.

Responding to the developments, SDOP Govind Singh Diwan said the accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He added that the investigation remains ongoing and further legal action will depend on the evidence that emerges during the course of the probe.

The arrest marks a significant development in the case, which has raised concerns over alleged intimidation following road accidents and the psychological impact such incidents can have on victims. Police have maintained that every aspect of the case, including the digital evidence and witness testimonies, is being examined thoroughly before filing the final charges.